Lilian Winstanley – författare

This volume was edited by Lilian Winstanley and originally published in 1922. It presents the full texts of 'The Prioress's Tale' and 'The Tale of Sir Thopas', accompanied by thorough, comprehensive notes. Winstanley further enhances the reading experience through extensive introductory chapters, focusing on Chaucer's life and the historical, social and literary contexts of his writing. She addresses common themes within The Canterbury Tales as well as providing a useful guide to pronunciation, grammar and metre within Chaucer. Furthermore, this book contains sound critical readings of both texts, discussing the historical relevance and religious connotations of 'The Prioress's Tale', and the form, satire and intertextuality of 'The Tale of Sir Thopas'. These tales, of a child martyr and a child knight respectively, will be enjoyed not simply because of their literary merit, but through the pains of the editor to produce a text that is both informative and accessible.

First published in 1921, this volume constitutes an attempt to view Hamlet in the light of contemporary history, pointing out possible links between the action of the play and the surrounding context of its creation. Given the lack of biographical material on Shakespeare and the consequent mystery surrounding his intentions, attention is focused on the relationship between the play and its potential audience. Through this approach an unusual thesis is developed, one in which the play is seen as casting a positive light on the Essex conspiracy and the future succession of James I. This is a fascinating and controversial study that will be of value to anyone with an interest in Shakespeare, Elizabethan and Jacobean history, or literary criticism.

First published in 1914, this volume contains the complete text of The Nonnë Prestes Tale. The Ellesmere manuscript is used as the main source, though elements of the Harleian version are also present. Consummately edited by Lilian Winstanley (1876-1960), the text also contains generous explanatory notes, a glossary of terms, together with a lengthy introduction which provides contextual information on the tale and a chronological overview of Chaucer's life. This book will remain of value to anyone with an interest in The Canterbury Tales or the history of Chaucerian criticism.

Originally published in 1907, this book contains the text of Edmund Spenser's philosophical 'Fowre Hymnes'. Winstanley's introduction and notes detail the heavy influence of Platonic philosophy on Spenser's writings, particularly the role and function of the various kinds of love. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in Spenser's works and in Elizabethan poetry.

Originally published in 1915 as part of the Pitt Press Series, and reprinted many times thereafter, this book contains the text of the first book of Spenser's Faerie Queene. Winstanley prefaces the text with an introduction on the medieval, classical and renaissance sources for the poem, as well as the book's historical allegory. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in this important English poem.